Cardiff Rugby Under-18s captain Alfie Prygodzicz says his side are “raring to go” as they prepare to open the second block of the Regional Age Grade Championships against the Ospreys on Sunday.

The flanker, who captained Glantaf to schools league success at the Principality Stadium earlier this season, leads a Cardiff squad full of confidence after an impressive summer block that saw them win all four matches and finish top of the table.

With the competition now split into two blocks, Prygodzicz believes the work done during the opening phase has laid strong foundations heading into the post-Christmas fixtures.

“We had quite a successful summer block,” he said. “We did really well against the other regions and came out on top of the league, which we were very happy with.

“We had a bit of time away from games together because of the college block, but we kept training and that was massive for us. We mixed really well across schools, kept those connections going, and stayed close as a group. We’ve got real strength in depth and healthy competition – every shirt is up for grabs.”

That cohesion was evident during the schools and colleges programme, where Prygodzicz and several of his Cardiff teammates featured prominently. For the Glantaf back rower, lifting silverware with his schoolmates on Welsh rugby’s biggest stage was a standout moment.

“It was a brilliant experience,” he said. “Winning with your best mates, lads you’ve trained and played with for years, was special. It was tough at times, especially coming up against teammates from other Cardiff teams, but to come out on top was a massive achievement. It’s something I’d love to repeat in this RAG block with this group.”

The new two-block format is something Prygodzicz feels has benefitted both the RAG programme and the wider schools game, providing players with more opportunities to develop and express themselves.

“The two blocks give everyone more game time and make it more competitive,” he said. “The summer block actually means something now. It gave us confidence and that carried through into the college league as well. You could see it in the results and the standard of rugby being played.”

Sunday’s opponents add an extra edge to the occasion. The Ospreys defeated Cardiff 28-25 in last season’s Under-18s final, but the capital side responded emphatically in the summer with a 63-22 victory over the same opposition.

While Prygodzicz admits last year’s final still lingers, he insists the focus is firmly on the task ahead.

“That final was a tough one to take,” he said. “We’d come off such a high after beating the Scarlets and believed we could go on and win it. To lose at the final hurdle was disappointing.

“I think that result made the summer fixture personal, and we made sure we came out on top then. That’s the plan again this week – but it’s about what we do now, not what’s happened before.”

Personally, the Cardiff captain is clear on his focus for the weeks ahead – driving standards and leading a team-first mentality.

“For me it’s about stepping up as a leader again,” he explained. “What the coaches have asked of us is to drive teamwork. We’re not playing for individual rewards – we’re playing for each other and for the badge. If we do that, we give ourselves the best chance of winning games.”

For supporters watching on, Prygodzicz identified a number of teammates he expects to play a key role in the second block.

“Ben Coomer is a massive leader for us and controls games brilliantly at ten,” he said. “Ioan Dacey is a powerful ball carrier, and Harry Kinsey has really shown what he can do during the college block – he’s an attacking threat with strong defence. Then you’ve got lads like Sonny McCabe who’s a big hitter and Will Adams is strong under the high ball as well. We’ve got a lot of boys who can express themselves on the field.”

Prygodzicz also paid tribute to the coaching group for creating what he describes as one of the best environments he’s been part of.

“The coaches have been brilliant,” he added. “Saul, Aled, Josh Turnbull in the summer – they’ve created an environment where lads enjoy training, push each other, and are excited to play. Whether you’re in the starting XV, the 23 or pushing from outside, everyone’s trying to make the team better. That’s something we’re really grateful for.”

With momentum, rivalry and confidence all in place, Cardiff U18s head into Sunday’s clash knowing the second block offers another chance to show how strong Cardiff’s academy side can be.

Supporters can come along and back the next generation this Sunday. The U18s’ clash with the Ospreys is included with all Cardiff Rugby Season Memberships.